University Place Residents Directory

The University Place Residents Directory helps you find public records tied to people who live or have open cases in University Place, Washington. Use it to search city clerk files, code enforcement records, council minutes, and permit files. Because University Place is a small contract city, many services are handled by outside agencies. Police reports go through South Sound 911. Property taxes go through the Pierce County Assessor. This page lines up the right link for each type of record so you do not waste time. University Place sits in Pierce County, so county tools cover a large share of resident data.

How the University Place Residents Directory Works

University Place is a contract city. That means many records commonly tied to a municipal government are held by other agencies. The City Clerk is the Public Records Officer for the City of University Place and handles general city records under Chapter 42.56 RCW. Ordinance 478 sets the local procedure for public records requests. City Hall is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Clerk's Office also administers city business licenses in partnership with the Washington State Business Licensing Service.

Under RCW 42.56.520, the city must respond within five business days with the record, an estimate, a clarification, or a denial. RCW 42.56.070 requires that identifiable, non-exempt records be made available to the public unless an exemption applies.

See the University Place Public Records page for the request center and Ordinance 478 link.

The image below shows the city's main public records page.

That page is the main entry point for all general records requests in University Place.

University Place City Clerk

The City Clerk's Office supports the City Council. The Clerk keeps agendas, calendars, minutes, packets, and legal notices. The office also manages the city's records program, election matters with Pierce County, the Municipal Code, the Fee Schedule, and city policies. Business licenses are processed through the Clerk's Office with the state Business Licensing Service. Since the Clerk runs elections in partnership with the county, voter registration questions go to the Pierce County Auditor.

Visit the University Place City Clerk page for contact details and a list of what the office handles.

The Clerk's page lists the services the office provides and where to send other requests.

Note: Under RCW 42.56.070(9), University Place is not allowed to release lists of individuals for commercial purposes.

University Place Residents Directory Police Records

Police services in University Place are provided through Pierce County, and police records are obtained through South Sound 911, not the city. You can submit a request online at the South Sound 911 portal or in person at 945 Tacoma Avenue S, Tacoma, WA 98402. The phone number is 253.798.7441. To report a crime in progress, call 253.798.4721 to dispatch an officer.

For statewide criminal history data, use the Washington State Patrol WATCH system. WATCH runs name-based searches and returns Washington court convictions only. It does not cover other states or federal courts. RCW 10.97 limits the release of non-conviction data to the general public, so some requests will be denied or redacted.

Code Enforcement and Permits

Code Enforcement in University Place handles junk vehicles, abandoned cars, and other nuisance issues defined in University Place Municipal Code 9.35. Reports can be filed through the city's online map tool. The city does not accept anonymous complaints. Any complaint you file is documented privately, but all emails, complaints, and attachments sent to or from the city are public records and may be disclosed under the Public Records Act (RCW 42.56). Contact the Code Enforcement officer at 253.460.2548 or codeenforcement@cityofup.com.

See the University Place Code Enforcement page for the intake map and staff contacts.

The page also explains how the city sets priorities based on life, health, and safety concerns.

The city's original rules for records disclosure are in Ordinance No. 20, which set the procedure for public inspection and copying of city records.

Court and Land Records

Misdemeanor and infraction cases in University Place go to Pierce County District Court. Felony cases go to Pierce County Superior Court. For statewide case lookups, the Washington Courts Odyssey Portal covers Superior, District, and Municipal courts. For Pierce County specifically, the LINX system is the main people search tool for court data. Court records are governed by General Rule 31, not the Public Records Act.

Records not maintained by the city include Fire and Hazardous Materials Incidents (West Pierce Fire and Rescue), Property Taxes (Pierce County Assessor at 253.798.6111), Septic Systems (Tacoma/Pierce County Health Department), Sewer Permits (Pierce County Sewer Utilities), and Zoning and Land Use (Pierce County Open GeoSpatial Data Portal). Historical permits from before 1995 are also held by the county.

University Place Residents Directory Vital Records

Birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates for events in University Place come from two places. The Washington Department of Health issues certified copies for events from 1968 to present. Only qualified applicants can get certified copies of birth and death records under RCW 70.58A.560. Older records may sit with the Pierce County Auditor or the Washington State Digital Archives.

For property records and parcel data, start with the Pierce County Assessor. The Washington Department of Revenue lists every county assessor site. Recorded deeds and liens are filed under RCW 65.04 and RCW 36.18. Business filings are free at the Washington Secretary of State CCFS, and you can look up any state statute at the Washington State Legislature site.

Pierce County Residents Directory Link

University Place sits inside Pierce County. Many records for University Place residents live at the county level. Superior Court cases, recorded deeds, property assessments, and police records all come through the county. Visit the Pierce County Residents Directory for the full set of county portals.

Nearby Cities

Other Pierce County and South Sound cities have their own records offices.